Best Gun Belts: Concealed Carry, Range, & Battle [Tested]
Looking for the best gun belts for concealed carry, range, & battle that hold everything but still look normal? We've tested a bunch!
PPT Founder. NRA Pistol Instructor. USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 Competitor. 250+ articles
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Looking for the best gun belt for concealed carry?
It has to be sturdy to hold a loaded handgun plus an extra magazine, but can't be so tactical that it gives you away.
We've got you covered with some of the top brands out there. We've worn them for CCW, at the range, and during competitions -- and they rock.
Now, let's get started!
The Quick List
- Best Overall: Kore Essentials Tactical Gun BeltJump to details ↓
- Best Leather Belt: Daltech BullBeltJump to details ↓
- Best Dress Belt: Crossbreed Holsters Executive Gun BeltJump to details ↓
- Best Heavy-Duty Belt: Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC BeltJump to details ↓
Gun Belt Comparison Chart
| Material | Colors | Sizes | Width | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kore Essentials Tactical | Nylon | Black, gray, tan, ranger green, coyote, desert tiger stripe, frogskin, Multicam, Multicam tropic, Multicam arid, Multicam black | One size covers waists 24 - 54" | 1.5" | $64 |
| Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC | Nylon | Black, wolf gray, coyote brown, OD green | Pant sizes 28 - 48 | 1.5" | $78 |
| Daltech Bull Belt | Leather | Black, brown, tan | Pant size 32 - 60 | 1.25", 1.5" | $49 |
| Crossbreed Holsters Executive Gun Belt | Leather | Black, brown, gray, founders | Pant size 28 - 66 | 1.25", 1.5" | $59 |
| Relentless Tactical | Leather | Black, brown | Pant size 28 - 48 | 1.5" | $69 |
| Nexbelt EDC Ratchet Belt | Nylon, leather | Black, brown, gray, tan, white, blue, green, navy, purple, red | One size covers waists up to 45" | 1.5", 2.25" | $49 |
How We Tested the Best Gun Belts
For this article, we gathered a bunch of CCW gun belts we've personally used, reviewed, and owned here at Pew Pew Tactical. The entire Pew Pew Tactical team, as well as freelance writers, contributed to this review to offer different opinions based on ergonomics, size, and experience.
For gun belts we have reviews on, we've linked those so you can read more.
Best Gun Belts
1. Kore Essentials Tactical Gun Belt - Best Overall
Pros
- Easy to adjust
- Low profile buckle
- Comfortable to wear
Cons
- Very casual
Specs
- Material: Nylon
- Colors: Black, gray, tan, ranger green, coyote, desert tiger stripe, frogskin, Multicam, Multicam tropic, Multicam arid, Multicam black
- Sizes: One size covers waists 24 - 54"
- Width: 1.5"
My favorite concealed carry belt is the Kore Essentials Tactical Gun Belt with X7 Buckle.
It's super easy to get a perfect fit with its hidden ratcheting track system that creates continuous sizing in 0.25-inch increments.
I love that I'm able to size in and out throughout the day, depending on if I'm going to be standing, sitting, or driving a while, and want my holster to ride a little higher or lower on my abdomen.
Since I wear untucked shirts all the time, I don't worry about a belt looking too tactical. But this one doesn't scream, "Gun," so can wear it with your shirt tucked in if you need to.
Kore makes a bunch of buckles and you can mix and match them with the brand's various belts. I like the X7 buckle since it's the most low-profile and doesn't create a bulge over an AIWB holster.
If you need something more businesslike, check out their reinforced leather belts.
Kore's dress belts carry 4 pounds which is more than you need for most pistols. Again, they have a nice selection of buckles.
I've been wearing my leather belt for quite some time, and there are no noticeable scuff marks from any of my holsters.
If you want to learn more, check out my review of Kore Essentials.
Use code PEWPEWTACTICAL to get 10% off your purchase!
What's your take on Kore? Rate it below.
Readers’ Ratings
4.98/5 (2335 Votes)Your Rating
2. Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt - Best Heavy-Duty Belt
Pros
- Cobra buckle
- Easy to unbuckle and take off
- Durable
Cons
- Very tactical appearance
Specs
- Material: Nylon
- Colors: Black, wolf gray, coyote brown, OD green
- Sizes: Pant sizes 28 - 28
- Width: 1.5"
Want a heavy-duty gun belt you can wear every day? The Blue Alpha Hybrid EDC Belt blurs the line between battle belt and CCW belt.
One of its best features is the universally loved Cobra buckle. These aluminum buckles take thousands of pounds to break and are trusted by military, law enforcement, and rescue professionals.
Usually, the one drawback is a female end that's slightly larger than the belt so it won't fit through normal belt loops.
But the Hybrid belt solves this with a female end of the buckle that matches the 1.5-inch belt. This makes it a lot easier to put on and take off when you're not sporting 5.11 Tactical pants all day long.
Besides the Austrian Cobra buckle, everything else is made and assembled in the USA with a lifetime guarantee.
If you're eating too much brisket (like me) the belt is adjustable up to 2 inches in either direction.
Want to fly under the radar a little easier?
Check out Blue Alpha's Low Profile EDC, which relies on 1.5" webbing and a lightweight polymer slide buckle to keep the risk of printing to a minimum.
3. Daltech BullBelt - Best Leather Belt
Pros
- High quality leather
- Stitching is good
- Can withstand a lot of abuse
Cons
- Thickest of all the belts we tried
Specs
- Material: Leather
- Colors: Black, brown, tan
- Sizes: Pant size 32 - 60
- Width: 1.25", 1.5"
The Daltech BullBelt was the thickest belt I tested, and I have no doubt will stand up to years of use and abuse. The price is fair, too.
The leather is nice, and the stitching adds a classy touch. No one will be able to tell it's a gun belt. The sizing is also easy to figure out -- just add 2 inches to your normal belt size.
Keep in mind that, because it's so thick, it will sort of felt like a small hula hoop around your waist. You'll get used to it, though.
This might not be the best pick if you're carrying a small CCW pistol and a spare magazine. But if you're team full-size it will make carrying a lot more comfortable.
4. Crossbreed Holsters Executive Gun Belt - Best Dress Belt
Pros
- Sturdy leather
- Quality stitching
- Good for business attire
Cons
- A little expensive
Specs
- Material: Leather
- Colors: Black, brown, gray, founders
- Sizes: Pant size 28 - 66
- Width: 1.25", 1.5"
I really like Crossbreed Holsters (see my review of the Best Concealed Carry Holsters), so I wanted to check out the Crosbreed Holsters Executive Gun Belt, as well.
The leather looks great -- suitable for the office or a nice restaurant. It's thinner than the BullBelt, so it didn't feel excessively rigid around my waist when I was wearing slacks. I sized up 2 inches above my normal pant size.
Pricing is a little steep, but you're paying for a more polished look. I especially like the understated CB logo on the Executive.
This is real leather, so expect it to creak with movement a little bit as it breaks in. After a few days, it will be nice and quiet.
5. Relentless Tactical
Pros
- Looks like a normal belt
- Thinnest of the belts we tried
- Sturdy
Cons
- More basic than other brands
Specs
- Material: Leather
- Colors: Black, brown
- Sizes: Pant size 28 - 48
- Width: 1.5"
One of the first stealth-looking gun belts I got to test was the Relentless Tactical Belt.
It's almost indistinguishable from a normal belt, except that it's strong enough to hold a loaded handgun and two mags.
Yet, somehow, it's the thinnest of the bunch. It fits the bill for people who don't want to wear an overly stiff gun belt every day. I ordered mine 4 inches larger than my normal waist size.
The Relentless Belt is what I would recommend for a no-frills concealed carry belt that can double as a regular belt.
6. Nexbelt EDC Ratchet Belt
Pros
- Easy ratchet sizing
- Very comfortable
- Sturdy
Cons
- Buckle system is a bit stiff
Specs
- Material: Nylon, leather
- Colors: Black, brown, gray, tan, white, blue, navy, purple, red
- Sizes: One size covers waists up to 45"
- Width: 1.5", 2.25"
Looking for another belt like the Kore that can adjust easily on the fly? Check out the Nexbelt EDC Ratchet Belt.
Unlike the Kore, the Nexbelt uses a magnet to hold the belt in position. The system to release the track and adjust to a larger size was slightly stiffer than the Kore.
They also have an Appendix Carry option that has a smaller buckle to make AIWB a little bit easier.
How to Pick the Best Gun Belt
Choosing a gun belt basically comes down to two things: style and support.
Of course, we also recommend checking each manufacturers sizing instructions to make sure you get a proper fit. Remember, your gun belt has to fit around your waist and a holster.
Style
If you're buying a battle belt to open-carry with at the range, feel free to buy whatever high-speed tactical gear you want.
If your belt is for concealed carry, it needs to be more discreet.
What kind of clothes will you be wearing? A nylon gun belt looks great with a pair of jeans or board shorts. If you're dressing up with slacks and a jacket, you need a leather dress belt to match.
Support
Your gun belt needs to be strong enough to support your handgun and potentially extra ammo without sagging. That's why you don't want a normal belt in the first place.
If you carry a micro-compact handgun like the Sig Sauer P365, any gun belt will do. Those pistols are super lightweight.
If you carry a metal-framed pistol or revolver, you're going to need more support.
Meet the Experts
This article comes to you from Pew Pew Tactical Founder and CEO Eric Hung. Eric is an NRA-certified pistol instructor and a USPSA, 3-Gun, and NRL22 competitor. He has also researched and written over 250 articles on firearms and gear. He brings this expertise to this article, offering his perspective on gun belts for concealed carry and training at the range.
Editing this article is Scott Murdock. Scott is a Marine Corps veteran who competed and qualified as a rifle and pistol expert while in service. In addition to shooting, Scott has written for a variety of publications, testing, researching, and evaluating guns and gear. He brings that knowledge and skillset to this article, editing and fact-checking for accuracy.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Thoughts
A good belt can make or break a concealed carry setup. Not to mention, make things more comfortable.
But we think you can't go wrong with one of the suggestions above.
Which one did you choose? Or do you have another candidate for the best concealed carry belt? And if you don't have a go-to holster yet...check out our Best Holsters for Concealed Carry.
Latest Updates
May 2025: Added comparison chart and Meet the Experts section. Updated supporting content.